Improvement in gate-latches



S. CHERRY.

. GATE-LATCH. No.169,418.

Patented Nov. 2, 1875.

* E ISLE I 4 A Jib C a d NEssEs 1 v1: o

MPETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASNXNGTON. D

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' SAMUEL CHERRY, OF NEWPLYMOUTH, OHIO, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO MOSES M. CHERRY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169,418, dated November 2, 1875; application tiled July 12, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CHERRY, of.

New Plymouth, in the county of Vinton and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a parthereof.

This invention relates to a combination of devices which relieves the gate-hinges of part of the strain upon them, acts as a substitute for a latch, and also affords a means whereby the gate is conveniently opened.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a front view of a closed gate and its posts having my invention thereon. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, partly open. Fig. 3 is an inner-edge view of the latch or jamb post and its connected parts.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the views.

Ais the hinge-post of the gate. gate, suspended upon the hinges a. U is the latch or jamb post. The upper part of the latch-post O israbbeted, as shown at I), in which rabbet is pivoted the lever-latch c. The lower end of the lever-latch, through which B is the passes the pin 0 into the latch-post, acts, when partly revolved, as an eccentric or cam, for a purpose better understood from the following: Supposing the gate to have been opened, and then closed to the extent shown in Fig. 2, the pin 01, projecting from the front end of the gate, strikes against the shoulder e of the lever-latch, which stands oris held at the time about horizontally, the momentum of the closing gate throwing the leverlatch over beyond the perpendicular, as shown in Fig. 3. The

gate is thus locked between the lever-latch and the pins f, projectingfrom the inside of the latch-post. The eccentric course taken'by the shoulder e, which carries the pin 01 of the gate, tends to slightly lift the gate, and relieve the hinges of about half the Weight of the gate.

When it is desired to 'open the gate the lever-latch is simply pulled forward and allowed to fall, when the same eccentric course taken by the shoulder c slightly raises the latch end of the gate, which opens by reason of the slight droop given it by the additional strain placed upon the hinges; or the gate is pulled open, if any power is required. I

It is thus seen that the appliances herein described act in a threefold eapacity-viz., to open the gate; to relieve the hinges from about half the weight of the gate, and thus admit of making the posts lighter, and prevent loosening at the hinges; and also to lock the gate when closed.

The contrivance is simple and reliable, and can be cheaply constructed by means of the tools in ordinary use on a farm or in a country shop.

I claim as my invention, and wish to secure byhLetters Patent of the United States- The hinged gate B, pin d, rabbeted latchpost 0, stops f, and latch-lever 0, provided with the eccentric or cam end and shoulder c, all combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name this 17th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1875.

SAMUEL CHERRY.

Witnesses:

VoLNEY BRIGGS, M. M. CHERRY. 

